Burger to lead Nambia v Fiji

Gisborne - Namibia coach Johan Diergaardt has made seven player changes for his team's opening Rugby World Cup match against Fiji on Saturday from the lineup which lost to Georgia in the European Nations Cup at Bucharest in June.

Saracens flank Jacques Burger, one of the few fulltime professionals in the Namibian squad, has the highest profile of the incoming players after having helped the English club to the premiership. He will captain the side for the Pool D match at Rotorua International Stadium.

Wingers Danie Dames and Conrad Marais, inside center Piet van Zyl, flyhalf Theuns Kotze, tighthead prop Raoul Larson and hooker Hugo Horn are the other new arrivals. There is one positional change, with Eugene Jantjies shifting from No 10 to scrumhalf.

Teams

Namibia:

15 Chrysander Botha, 14 Hendrik Dames, 13 Danie Van Wyk, 12 Willem Van Zyl, 11 Conrad Marais, 10 Theuns Kotze, 9 Eugene Jantjies, 8 Jacques Nieuwenhuis, 7 Jacques Burger (captain), 6 Tinus du Plessis, 5 Nico Esterhuyse, 4 Heinze Koll, 3 Raol Larson, 2 Hugo Horn, 1 Johannes Redelinghuys

Substitutes: 16 Bertus O'Callaghan, 17 Jan Du Toit, 18 Pieter Jan van Lill, 19 Rohan Kitshoff, 20 Ryan De La Harpe, 21 Darryl De La Harpe, 22 Llewellyn Winkler

Fiji:

TBA